Why Younger Patients Are Now Opting for Knee Replacements Earlier
Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
30 June, 2025
Joint replacement surgeries in general have been reserved for severe cases which do not respond to any other forms of conservative or conventional treatments and hence have been restricted to individuals over 50 in majority of the cases. This is mostly because an artificial joint was thought to not last long enough, which meant it would affect the vitality of an active young individual. But, this thought process has now been quashed majorly due to the fact that there are more younger individuals than older folk in the country and that many of them tend to sustain different kinds of injuries which can affect their quality of life in a negative manner. Knee replacement surgery is a procedure designed to replace the ball and socket knee joint with an artificial implant and hence should not be used only when older people have arthritis or chronic pain that gets in the way of their daily routines.
Why Are Young Adults Getting Knee Replacements?
Though 50-70 years of age was the old standard when it came to getting knee replacement surgery done, this has now been revised and doctors say that even younger individuals can get them done if necessary. This also means that it was previously thought to be an unsafe option for younger individuals, which is no longer the case at present. Plus, it is important to remember that no one decides to get an invasive surgery done without thinking long and hard about how their lives are going to be influenced by it and younger folks do have a little more to lose than a retired, older individual right? Knee replacement is hence a good choice for someone below 50 years of age, even in their 20s or 30s if they have suffered severe injury, have severe pain and damaged joints make them feel miserable and no form of conventional pain management techniques work well for them.
Early Knee Replacement Pros And Cons
If you are younger, you heal faster and can get back to life soon. So, getting any surgery earlier does make sense right? That is a pro for you. But, artificial joints do not last forever and will work well for about 15-20 years or slightly less, provided you take good care of yourself after getting the procedure done. This means that if you get your knee replaced in your 30s or 40s or even earlier, then you will need o get it replaced again in a couple decades or so. This is called a ‘revision’ surgery and that can cause issues too at times.
Some people are super reluctant to get surgery done at any point of time and tend too long- the joint gets damaged severely and then even getting surgery done is a tough endeavour. Deformed knees include cases of knock knees or when you become bow-legged.
How Long Do Knee Implants Last In Young People?
They generally last for 15-20 years, if you don’t gain too much weight and exercise regularly to stay in shape. But, studies have been very divided in hat some say it is okay to wait for as long as possible before getting knee replacement surgery, while others say there is no point in delaying the inevitable and it is better to get the procedure done as soon as possible.
Conclusion
There are plenty of benefits of early knee replacement in active adults because it allows them to get back to life sooner rather than later. But, getting the surgery ultimately depends on how severe your condition is and whether you want to try other modes of treatment first. Rushing to get surgery done does not make sense. With the advent of minimally-invasive robotic knee replacement surgeries, recovery times are much lower and there is a marked decrease in the risk of developing infections or other complications. But, these procedures cost way more than conventional surgical procedures in many cases. So, what do you think is the right decision in such scenarios?
